Abstract: A muffler mechanism that reduces the volume of an acoustic piano without altering the feel of the piano to a human pianist. One embodiment includes a highly configurable piano muffler kit that may be mounted into pianos of various models. The muffler mechanism includes a cushioning member, which muffles the sound of the hammer striking the string and reduces the volume of the sound made by the string's vibration. The muffler mechanism also includes shims that may be used to position the cushioning member between a hammer let-off position and the string. This may allow for muffled piano playing without a noticeable change in the resistance of the keys. The muffler mechanism is mounted using brackets with a relatively small footprint. This allows the piano muffler to be installed without removing all of the dampers.

Abstract: Apparatus and method utilize an open-top hopper having an upper cascade-zone and a lower pool-zone. Crude snow-debris is intermittently dumped into the hopper open-top and there operationally admixed with low-temperature water; this admixture is converted by cascade-zone comminution drums into a rough-slurry that pools at the pool-zone. Within the pool-zone, the rough-slurry is agitated, preferably with a revolvable bladed shaft, into a smoothly flowable-slurry that is dischargeable through an apparatus outlet to a remote disposal site which might be a municipal sewerline. Preferably, the apparatus takes the form of a wheeled vehicle, has a lengthily agitated pool-zone extending beyond the hopper, and is equippable with other desireable optional structural features.